Office of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ for Exposition of the Holy Eucharist Introduction During Exposition of the Holy Eucharist one of the options for the period of Adoration is the recitation of part of the Liturgy of the Hours. This liturgy extends the praise and thanksgiving offered to God in the eucharistic celebration to the several hours of the day; it directs the prayers of the Church to Christ and through him to the Father in the name of the whole [HCWE 66] world. This may be either be the appropriate hour of the particular day or be taken from the Office of Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). A separate leaflet is available which gives more detail of how the Liturgy of the Hours is integrated into Exposition and what options are available. Evening Prayer II
Exposition of the Holy Eucharist Exposition The Blessed Sacrament is brought to the altar. During incensation a suitable song may be sung, in which case the Office Hymn is omitted or the Office Hymn may be sung at this point. Adoration EVENING PRAYER II Introduction O God, come to our aid. O Lord, make haste to help us. and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. (Alleluia is omitted in Lent.) Office Hymn The following or another hymn is sung. 1. Hail our Saviour s glorious Body, which his Virgin Mother bore; hail the Blood which, shed for sinners, did a broken world restore; hail the sacrament most holy flesh and Blood of Christ adore! 2. To the Virgin for our healing, his own Son the Father send; from the Father s love proceeding sower, seed, and Word descends; wondrous life of Word incarnate with his greatest winder ends! 3. On that paschal evening see him with the chosen twelve recline, to the old law still obedient in its feats of love divine; love divine, the new law giving, gives himself as Bread and Wine! 2 Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Pange Lingua
Psalmody Ant. 1: 4. By his word the Word almighty makes of bread his flesh indeed; wine becomes his very life-blood; faith God s living Word must heed! Faith alone may safely guide us where the senses cannot lead! 5. Come, adore this wondrous presence; bow to Christ, the source of grace! Here is kept the ancient promise of God s earthly dwelling-place! Sight is blind before God s glory, faith alone may see his face! 6. Glory be to God the Father, praise to his co-equal Son, adoration to the Spirit, bond of love, in Godhead one! Blest be God by all creation joyously while ages run! St Thomas Aquinas tr. James Quinn sj Christ the Lord is a priest for ever. Like Melchizedek he made an offering of bread and wine. Psalm 109 (110) The Lord s revelation to my Master: Sit on my right: your foes I will put beneath your feet. The Lord will wield from Zion your sceptre of power: rule in the midst of all your foes. A prince from the day of your birth on the holy mountains; from the womb before the dawn I begot you. The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change. You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedeck of old. Evening Prayer II 3
Ant. Ant. 2: The Master standing at your right hand will shatter kings in the day of his wrath. He shall drink from the stream by the wayside and therefore he shall lift up his head. and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Christ the Lord is a priest for ever. Like Melchizedek he made an offering of bread and wine. I will take the chalice of salvation and I will offer a thanksgiving sacrifice. Psalm 115 (116) I trusted even when I said: I am sorely afflicted, and when I said in my alarm: No man can be trusted. How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to me? The cup of salvation I will raise; I will call on the Lord s name. My vows to the Lord I will fulfil before all his people. O precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful. Your servant, Lord, your servant am I; you have loosened my bonds. A thanksgiving sacrifice I make: I will call on the Lord s name. My vows to the Lord I will fulfil before all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. 4 Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Ant. Ant. 3: Ant. and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. I will take the chalice of salvation and I will offer a thanksgiving sacrifice.. You are the Way, you are the Truth, you, O Lord, are the Life of the world. Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, His judgements are true and just. Praise our God, all you his servants, You who fear him, small and great. The Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns, Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory. The marriage of the Lamb has come, And his bride has made herself ready. and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. You are the Way, you are the Truth, you, O Lord, are the Life of the world. Evening Prayer II 5
Scripture Reading 1 Corinthians 11: 23 25 The following or another appropriate passage of scripture is read. This is what I received from the Lord, and in turn passed on to you: that on the same night that he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread, and thanked God for it and broke it, and he said: This is my body which is for you; do this as a memorial of me. In the same way he took the cup after supper, and said: This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink, do this as a memorial of me. The scripture reading may be followed a homily and a period of silence. Responsory He gave them the bread of heaven to eat, alleluia, alleluia. He gave them the bread of heaven to eat, alleluia, alleluia. Man has tasted the food of angels. He gave them the bread of heaven to eat, alleluia, alleluia. and to the Holy Spirit. He gave them the bread of heaven to eat, alleluia, alleluia. During Lent The Lord fed us with finest wheat. The Lord fed us with finest wheat. He filled us with honey from the rock. The Lord fed us with finest wheat. and to the Holy Spirit. The Lord fed us with finest wheat. Magnificat Luke 1: 46 55 All stand Ant. O sacred feast in which we partake of Christ: his sufferings are remembered, our minds are filled with his grace and we receive a pledge of the glory that is to be ours(, alleluia). My soul glorifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour. He looks on his servant in her lowliness; henceforth all ages will call me blessed. The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy his name! 6 Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Ant. His mercy is from age to age, on those who fear him. He puts forth his arm in strength and scatters the proud-hearted. He casts the mighty from their thrones and raises the lowly. He fills the starving with good things, sends the rich away empty. He protects Israel, his servant, remembering his mercy, the mercy promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his sons for ever. and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. O sacred feast in which we partake of Christ: his sufferings are remembered, our minds are filled with his grace and we receive a pledge of the glory that is to be ours(, alleluia). Intercessions At the supper to which all are invited, Christ gives his body and blood for the life of the world. Earnestly we beseech him, saying: Lord Jesus Christ, give us the bread of eternal life. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, you have commanded us to celebrate the eucharistic meal in remembrance of you: enrich your Church with the worthy celebration of these mysteries. Lord Jesus Christ, eternal high priest, you have committed to your priests the ministration of your sacraments: help them to do their part in your work with the unfailing gladness of genuine charity. Lord Jesus Christ, manna from heaven, you make into one all who share the one bread: grant peace and concord to all who believe in you. Evening Prayer II 7
Lord Jesus Christ, heavenly physician, you give an eternal remedy and a pledge of resurrection to those who eat your bread: grant health to the ailing and a real hope to sinners. Additional intercessions may be included here. Lord Jesus Christ, king who is to come, we know that whenever we celebrate these mysteries, we proclaim your death until you come again: bring all those who have died in you to share your resurrection. Our Father Benediction After the Lord s Prayer benediction follows. A suitable eucharistic song is sung. The Priest or Deacon incenses the Blessed Sacrament, rises and sings or says the following prayer. O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament have left us a memorial of your Passion, grant us, we pray, so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood that we may always experience in ourselves the fruits of your redemption. Who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. He then gives the blessing (benediction) Reposition The conclusion and dismissal is omitted. The Blessed Sacrament is placed in the tabernacle. The people sing an acclamation, or other suitable song or instrumental music. The ministers then depart. Acknowledgements: Excerpts from The Divine Office 1974, hierarchies of Australia, England and Wales, Ireland. All rights reserved. Text from The Psalms, a new translation 1963 The Grail (England) administered by HarperCollins. Hymn James Quinn sj, published by OCP. Revised Standard Version 1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. 8 Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ